Krystkowiak, Runnin' Utes eager to move past bittersweet season

I'm sure we'll be seeing Coach K haters every time the DN shows a
picture, has a headline, or reports on Utah Basketball. It just goes to show
the hypocrisy that exists from fans of the tds, who obviously don't
subscribe to the Mission of BYU athletics, which in part preaches that they
adhere to standards of the LDS Church, and "display world-class
sportsmanship."

I've seen a rise in this hatred ever since
the Utes joined the PAC-12. Jealousy rears it's ugly head. The bottom
line is, Coach K has steadily improved the program up on the hill since his
first year of only 6 wins, to one of the best in the PAC-12. Besides,
we've beaten the tds 3 times in a row. And I know that doesn't sit
well with the haters, but then again, what doesn't and shouldn't sit
well is having a player that totally ignores the mission of BYU and throws an
unwarranted sucker punch. There's no justification in it either.

atl134Salt Lake City, UT

April 19, 2017 12:51 p.m.

It's delusional to think Utah would be able to easily find a better coach
than Krystkowiak or Whittingham that would accept an offer.

AZUTE1Mesa, AZ

April 18, 2017 6:25 p.m.

Signing Tillman/Bibbons is absolutely huge for....Anybody else would just simply
be icing on the cake!

Go Coach K!

Go Utes!

JohnInSLCCottonwood Heights, UT

April 18, 2017 1:20 p.m.

"Glad he called out coach Rose for lack of player control."

Co Ute:

The funny thing is, the usual suspects complaining about
Coach K are also the ones (now joined by Tom Holmoe and Head Cheerleader Harmon)
that have also called out Coach Rose--for pretty much the same thing.

You can't make this stuff up!

SUNNY ALL DAYSt George, UT

April 18, 2017 10:48 a.m.

Love the dire, dark scenarios painted by the usual haters.Haters gonna
hate.It's what they do.Meanwhile...Coach K will continue
to bring a smile to the face of every UTAH fan who loves to see the haters tie
themselves into hate filled pretzels.Go Coach K!Go UTES!

CO UtePARKER, CO

April 17, 2017 6:59 p.m.

For the record I am an actual U grad and Crimson Club member. Utes are in good
hands with both their football and basketball coaches. While I expect to see
some improvement with the BB team, I think Larry K has done a very good job.
My favorite thing about Larry K? Easy. It is the fact that so many of
the BYU fans don't like him. Glad he called out coach Rose for lack of
player control. Glad he cancelled the one Y game. Glad he wears the red sport
jacket. Glad he publicly states he would rather not play BYU right now. All
those work for me.

JustGordonSalt Lake City, UT

April 17, 2017 6:39 p.m.

I am amazed at how many Of our little brothers think the UTES
"underachieved." I can only guess they are used to hearing that
adjective used with each and every Rose team that failed to win a WCC title
and/or lost a playin game! Likely they heard so often, they thought it was a
compliment!

TouchdownUtesSalt Lake City, UT

April 17, 2017 1:51 p.m.

65TossPowerTrap "K needs to focus on coaching his team and not other teams,
if you know what I mean."

I think I know what you mean.....so
that being said, BYU needs to focus on recruiting players who adhere to the
mission of the school that says their athletes should focus on "displaying
world-class sportsmanship" as opposed to throwing unwarranted punches on
opposing players.

Spokane UteSpokane, WA

April 17, 2017 1:34 p.m.

Ron Swanson - Ibapah, UTApril 17, 2017 12:14 p.m.

Our Utes need
new leadership, let's hope LK moves on out the door. He's been good
for wins but bad in so many other areas. If we hope to keep up with the other
teams in the conference then now is the time to change coaches. And I'd
argue similarly on the football side things too...-------and who
would you propose they replace them with? I will take the current leadership and
enjoy post season as opposed to phony feel good coaches who are fired after 3
years of losing. Ask any Washington fan how the Lorenzo Romar deal worked out.
Ask Oregon how the Mark Helfrich deal worked out. I have trouble believing you
are a Utah fan at all. Please don't use the term "our" so loosely.

Down underSalt Lake City, UT

April 17, 2017 1:20 p.m.

Spokane,The dumpster fire is the one he created not the one he inherited.
Care to go back 12 years and look at the record against BYU? I didn't
think so.

Water Rocket,Judkins would rather coach the women at
BYU that return to the hill to coach anything.laxman,How about
Brandon Taylor tripping a BYU player on the way down the court just because he
got beat? Does that count as a cheap shot? Funny how that incident got glossed
over so easily.

Ron SwansonIbapah, UT

April 17, 2017 12:14 p.m.

Our Utes need new leadership, let's hope LK moves on out the door.
He's been good for wins but bad in so many other areas. If we hope to keep
up with the other teams in the conference then now is the time to change
coaches. And I'd argue similarly on the football side things too...

Stringer BellHenderson, NV

April 17, 2017 11:55 a.m.

@ Not much of a fan

For not being "much of a fan" you have
more to say than any of the other posts.

longjohnHighland, UT

April 17, 2017 11:36 a.m.

Yes it is true this season was bittersweet. Through the course of the season the
team overachieved, but in the post season they underachieved. Coach K is a very
good coach, but as pointed out, not a top ten coach like Sean Miller or Mark
Few. It is understandable to lose recruits to those coaches and their programs.
Every school would like to have a coach like those guys, but does that make
Coach K not a good coach, no.

I believe Coach K will always have
Utah in the top 4 of the Pac12, but may never win a title. He is an excellent
coach in most aspects of coaching, except game time adjustments. He should not
be blamed when a young kid does not act responsibly, by going to class, doing
their homework or showing up late. I remember that I was a screw up too at that
age. It seems that Coach holds them accountable, which will help his program,
and these young men in the future.

I wish we had not lost the two
very good players who were dismissed this year, but it does make me feel better
about the program that they were dismissed rather then they wanted to bolt for
another program.

Tomahawk RedSan Francisco, CA

April 17, 2017 11:06 a.m.

LOL at the jealous haters.

LOL at the disillusioned U fans thinking
something is wrong.

LK is gonna be here for a while. Accept it.

Brave Sir RobinSan Diego, CA

April 17, 2017 10:56 a.m.

@water rocket

"Plus, Judkins is a gentleman in every
respect."

So is Dave Rose. Doesn't mean I want him coaching
my basketball team.

Spokane UteSpokane, WA

April 17, 2017 10:45 a.m.

worf - McAllen, TXApril 17, 2017 10:16 a.m.

Spokane Ute,

Little brother?

Try Big Daddy!------When you
actually beat Utah; we will revisit the subject. There's your cue to run
off as usual; the true one and done Guy.

Laxmantaylorsville, UT

April 17, 2017 10:43 a.m.

@water rocket

Please tell me what the lack of sportsmanship is. I
haven't seen a sucker punch up there except for our little brother.

water rocketMagna, UT

April 17, 2017 10:27 a.m.

When coach LK first came to Utah, I was really thrilled. I thought he would be
fantastic. He did rebuild Utah's basketball program, but I don't like
what I see now. I won't go into all the deficiencies he has, from lack of
sportsmanship, to turnover issues, but I will say that I have really cooled in
support of this guy. Aren't there any coaches with class out there any
more? How about stealing Judkins back from BYU? After all, Judkins played for
the U, and was an assistant coach to Majerus for a number of years. Plus,
Judkins is a gentleman in every respect.

worfMcAllen, TX

April 17, 2017 10:16 a.m.

Spokane Ute,

Little brother?

Try Big Daddy!

81UteCentral, UT

April 17, 2017 8:42 a.m.

Glad to see that we are getting so much attention from the crowd with the
'dumpster fire' (you know it is true) program. Stick around and
change from blue to Red.

As for the turnover, who cares? Kids do
what kids do...always have and always will. If a recruit is not going to follow
the rules/expectations of being on this team, well then, good riddance and good
luck.

@Joe SchmoePre-season? What is that? Maybe you
are confusing the Jazz and the Utes? Utes played several ranked teams in
pre-conference this past season, did anybody else around here do that?

65TossPowerTrapSalmon, ID

April 17, 2017 8:40 a.m.

K needs to focus on coaching his team and not other teams, if you know what I
mean. Maybe then we won't see any more of these culture building articles.

ConradGurchSalt Lake City, Utah

April 17, 2017 8:08 a.m.

If Michael Jordan can play for college ball for 3 years everyone else can too.
The NBA is incredibly weak & watered down. They college kids should play
college ball for two years. This one & done stuff is why the NBA ratings
are so poor.

Spokane UteSpokane, WA

April 17, 2017 7:14 a.m.

I'm so glad Coach K is at Utah. 20 win seasons have become common place
along with beating little Bro. Although last season didn't turn out exactly
how we would have liked; I'm optimistic moving forward. It's pretty
cool that he teaches his players how to play the game the right way; and
continues to send them onto the NBA. No dirty play here or sucker punches. I
look forward to the coming season and getting back to the NCAA tourney which
would make it 3 out 4 season. Not too shabby; especially considering the
dumpster fire he inherited. Go Utes!

Joe SchmoeOrem, UT

April 17, 2017 1:53 a.m.

It's ok coach. At least it was a safe season.

Maybe next year
the team can play some decent pre-season games?

Not Much of a FanIrvine, CA

April 17, 2017 12:19 a.m.

In another post I wrote that Coach LK had given new meaning to "one and
done" and it was assumed I was a Y fan and someone made a comment about
"my fan base." I'm a third generation, passionate Ute! My parents
and various aunts and uncles worked at the U as faculty and in the Park
Building. You can disregard my comments, but not because I'm a Y fan.

The new meaning to "one and done" that concerns me, in addition
to the concerns noted by others, is the number of transfers after one year
because they're done with the coach or he's done with them.

LK isn't much of a recruiter if he recruits players who don't
subscribe to his culture. If he can't see the culture issues before they
step on campus or can't instill that sense of his culture once they arrive
he's not doing a good job as a recruiter or coach.

Also
consider the Finn coached by Mottola who chose Arizona over the U, the Frenchman
whose brother played for the U who chose Gonzaga, the top Utah prep who chose
Arizona, and the top Finley Prep player chose Gonzaga over Utah.

Why? Because they see that LK is no Sean Miller or Mark Few.

Or
maybe they're allergic to his burning sweet grass.

UteologyEast Salt Lake City, Utah

April 16, 2017 10:02 p.m.

@RockOn

Underachieving? Yes Utah had an average year but they were
picked to finish 8th with 10 new starters. They finished 4th in a 4 bid
conference.

Prior to that they finished #16 and #21 in the
nation.

If Kuzma comes back then we have a good chance at another top
25 season next year.

Go UTES!

ERBEagle Mountain, UT

April 16, 2017 9:33 p.m.

Blame blame blame. The buck sure doesn't stop with the former Buck.

RockOnSpanish Fork, UT

April 16, 2017 7:05 p.m.

How many more of these seasons are in the Ute future? Getting to be a pattern of
underachieving teams followed by significant number of desertions, followed by
promises of "we're getting there. " And patient fan base of empty
seats never argues.